LEED is the most widely used green building rating system overseen by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED certification criteria includes;
- Sustainable Site Development
Design, construction and maintenance practices can have a significant effect on their environmental surroundings. It is necessary for certain measures to be taken inorder to lessen the negative impacts in these processes.
This aim to minimize natural disturbances caused by the entire life cycle of the building. So the aim of a sustainable site plan is to have the least environmental impact while still maintaining normal building standards. - Water Efficiency and Conservation
Buildings make use of water supply a whole lot. Water conservation involves smarter use of water and this can be achieved through implementing efficient sustainable features in buildings. - Increasing Energy Efficiency
Buildings make use of a whole lot of energy. In the United State, buildings make use of about 39% of energy and 74% of electricity produced each year. The goodnews is that, the most cost-effective way to combat climate change in the world is to reduce to the nearest minimum, energy demands in buildings. - Materials and Resources
Buildings generate a lot of waste and make use of a lot of materials and resources, so the use of renewable or recyclable materials is highly important. It must b durable, recyclable, locally sourced and do not contain harmful chemicals. - Indoor Environmental Air Quality
The majority of people spend a whole lot of time indoor. There is need to promote strategies to improve indoor air quality. To achieve this, there is need to make use of low-emitting materials in buildings, access to natural light and proper ventilation.
